Maury County staff removes proposed Culleoka football startup from this year’s budget request

School system leaders withdrew a request to add a football program at Culleoka High and removed a proposed second activities director from the immediate budget recommendation, explaining both items require longer planning and significant up‑front expense.

Superintendent Lisa Ventura and Mr. Pointer told the board that starting football would require an estimated $100,000 for protective equipment and field needs on the front end. Ventura said the district supports providing the opportunity in principle but recommended a phased model similar to Summertown’s prior rollout — starting middle‑school programs or staggered grade additions — rather than funding a full varsity program immediately.

Pointer said other sports on the request list — wrestling at Battle Creek, girls flag football at Central, golf and bowling at select schools and program restorations at several sites — can be absorbed within existing budget lines. He explained coach compensation is handled via stipends: faculty coaches paid monthly through payroll, 1099 nonfaculty coaches paid a lump sum after the season, and volunteers unpaid.

Board members asked whether existing savings, reallocations from programs being dropped, and county sport allotments would cover new requests. Pointer said several small program costs would be offset by savings from maintenance efficiencies and by funds freed when a few small sports are discontinued. The board agreed to place the sports allotment items on the consent list for formal approval at the business meeting.